Virtual environment operator Linden Lab has partnered up with 888 Holdings plc's Gisland/Dragonfish division to provide payment processing for non-US Second Life customers.
A spokesperson for Linden Lab told us, "We're working together with Gisland on a cashier interface and other tools that will give Residents more payment options and make it easier for Residents to pay in a wider range of native currencies than they can now. Gisland will also help Linden Lab implement appropriate anti-fraud measures as we expand these payment options. In addition, Gisland will assist Residents directly with payment-related issues, including failed transactions."
That last part is fascinating, as that would be something of a first insofar as Second Life payments processing goes, as is the tantalizing hint of expanded payment options – something that is of considerable interest to users outside North America.
What's also going to inevitably draw attention is that Dragonfish is an online gambling company as well, which is a large part of where their payment processing expertise comes from. Doubtless quite a few people will find some irony in that, given Linden Lab's stance on gambling in Second Life.
888/Gisland/Dragonfish, based in Gibraltar, has a pretty solid reputation in both payments and gambling systems and is justifiably proud of their systems, whether that's payment systems, poker or other casino-style games.
Linden Lab's CEO, Mark Kingdon said, "Second Life Residents log into the virtual world from nearly every country around the globe and participate in a virtual economy that will exceed USD500 million this year. Dragonfish has a strong track record in unlocking new markets through its unique and secure payment processing solutions, and as Second Life continues to grow internationally, we're pleased to work with them to provide easy and secure payment options for our users outside the United States."
The deal should come close to doubling the size of Dragonfish's payments processing operations annually.
At present there's no indication from Linden Lab as to exactly when payments will begin to run through the Dragonfish system or what additional payment methods will become available.
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